New to BP, need help with old cap lock pistol

[elmu]

Hello! I am a fairly experienced shooter but completely new to BP.

I have in my possession an old BP pistol that has been in my family for generations. It´s a big (possibly around 16 inches long) smoothbore with a cap lock mechanism, presumably made in Italy, and I estimate it dates to the 1830s or so. The bore is huge, maybe around .60 caliber. The condition is rather good, and it´s perfectly capable of dry-firing.

However, the little tube that holds the percussion cap has rusted away. I´m told that this is very common, due to the use of corrosive primers.

I would like to restore the weapon to a firing state. After asking around, I was told that any decent machinist should be able to fashion a replacement for that part. However, I´d like to know if there are any commercial replacements.

Is there anything else I should take into account? I´m completely new to this, so I´d like to hear about the feasibility of doing such kind of work.

 

[MisterHappy]

If you belong to a club, see if anyone there is a BP afficionado.

A machinist may be able to fabricate part that fits, but a machinist is NOT a gunsmith.

A BP-shooter will likely know who or where a competent smith can be found.

Also, since corrosive materials are the standard for BP, there may be "suprises" inside.

When in doubt, check it out!

 

[mec]

QUOTE]"suprises" inside[/QUOTE]
Right. freeing up the nipple with penetrating oil and unscrewing it might reveal that the threads in the breech are pure iron oxide.

The nipple didn't want to come unscrewed on this one but the overall absence of rust inside the barrel or elsewhere led us to risk shooting it. No problems
http://www.gunsmagazine.com/DGM0707.html

 

[goon]

Check out www.muzzleloadingforum.com . I've picked up a lot of info over there just by searching and asking questions. If you take a couple pics and post your questions over there you'll likely have half a dozen guys telling you what you have and what needs to be done to get it shooting.
FWIW, post a pic here too. Lots of knowledgeable guys on this forum as well.

 

[elmu]

Here is a picture of the gun in question:

Shot at 2009-01-05

 

[Oyeboten]

Hi elmu,



No more 'dry firing' with any Percussion Arm please, it will destroy the Nipple...unless it is to fire off a Cap, or to dry fire on a spent Cap.


Also, make sure your Pistol is not Loaded.

Old Percussion Pistols are sometimes found to have been sitting for decades or more, while being Loaded...so...take a Dowel Rod or something and put it down the Barrel, all the way, mark where it emerges from the Muzzle, and then hold it parallel on the outside, and see how that leangth relates to the location of the Breech Plug.

 

[Hellgate]

Elmu,
You might want to look up the gun in Flayderman's Guide to Antique Guns or some authoritative source to be sure you aren't going to destroy the value of the gun by "restoring it". It might be worth something as is and you'd be better off buying some cheap kit and build a similar one made of parts that work. A newer made used single shot percussion pistol ought to be pretty cheap. I've seen them at garage sales and gun shows. They get turned in all the time to police gun buy backs cause the $100 you get for them are more than they are worth.

 

[goon]

I'm not at all qualified to comment, but it kind of looks like the French replicas I've seen only converted to cap...
I imagine by this time tomorrow you'll have some clues

 

[Chawbaccer]

To answer your question, yes there are many commercial replacement nipples. Dixie Gun works is probably one of the biggest sources. You will have to know the thread size of the original. Unless you have had it out you should give it a good soaking with PB Blaster or another good penetrating oil. Likely you will have to use an easy out to get nipple out.
There will be a proof mark on the gun some place that will show the country of origin.
If you do get it in shape to fire, know how to remotely shoot it and how to proof it, beware, the proof or test firing may consume the pistol.

 

[goon]

Something to consider though - by cleaning it you might be screwing up any collector value. Parts buster removes all kinds of crap without concern for how much originality it might be stripping off. I think before you try to restore it you should see what it's worth. Maybe a collector will give enough for it to get you a really nice replica. Then he can be happy hanging an original gun on his wall and you can be happy shooting the hell out of a nice replica made of more modern steel that definitely won't blow up in your face.

I think you should register on the muzzleloading forum and post your questions and picture there. There are knowledgeable guys here but the guys over there are black powder nuts. Someone will almost certainly be able to help you out over there.
http://www.muzzleloadingforum.com/fusionbb/showforum.php?fid/143/keyword/research/